For most of my Christian life (since 12 years old) I have misunderstood the true nature of worship. I have looked at it like is was my purpose and obligation to God because He is my creator. I was made to worship and when I don't I'm not pleasing God. I often don't worship God because I tend to see it as a vague and often useless responsibility to help in my life on earth. The only use I saw in it was appeasing God. I worshiped out of fear or duty knowing it is expected. I worshiped because I should--after all God is God. I worshiped so that God would not be angry at me or curse me...
Worship is what human beings do to recognize how great God is. The underlying implication is that our worship is something God required and desired of us for His own purposes. God required our worship much like we might see someone demanding that we acknowledge their authority over us. We might see worship as our sign of surrender to someone superior to us. When we look at worship from a human point of view we see God somehow using it over us or receiving it from us as acknowledgement of His Lordship.
This idea or persuasion motivating worship is all wrong. If we see worship as something we must do, should do, as in a duty, obligation, or responsibility, we are missing the real purpose of it. If we think that our worship is us giving God something and God is receiving, or taking in, or somehow feeding off of it--we are way off again. God doesn't need our worship, He doesn't need our praise! In fact, God doesn't need our love, adoration, and appreciation. God doesn't need anything--He is God.
Worship is not us giving it is us receiving!
Worship is what human beings do to recognize how great God is. The underlying implication is that our worship is something God required and desired of us for His own purposes. God required our worship much like we might see someone demanding that we acknowledge their authority over us. We might see worship as our sign of surrender to someone superior to us. When we look at worship from a human point of view we see God somehow using it over us or receiving it from us as acknowledgement of His Lordship.
This idea or persuasion motivating worship is all wrong. If we see worship as something we must do, should do, as in a duty, obligation, or responsibility, we are missing the real purpose of it. If we think that our worship is us giving God something and God is receiving, or taking in, or somehow feeding off of it--we are way off again. God doesn't need our worship, He doesn't need our praise! In fact, God doesn't need our love, adoration, and appreciation. God doesn't need anything--He is God.
Worship is not us giving it is us receiving!
Worship, if is seen as something for God, is missing what God is after. Worship is not for God it is for us! Worship is what human beings do when they see God! When we actually have a revelation of who God is, we'll worship. When we genuinely worship God in spirit and in truth, what we are doing is seeing His glory. When we see His glory we see His truth and the giving nature of His grace. God is the source, giver, creator, supplier of all life. Nothing is ever taken in by God it is always coming from Him. Love comes from God to us and when we receive it not only do we worship but we are filled and blessed.
Therefore, understand that worship is for our benefit because as we see Him we become just as He is (I John 4:17). As we behold His glory we are transformed into the same image (II Cor. 3:18). It is God who supplies our every need but we need to see Him as our supplier (Php. 4:19). We need to see His love poured out and the help He has given in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 6:2). We need to see God as our need provider, our protector, our healer, our faith, peace, joy, and strength. As we worship the One true God in Spirit and in truth, we are identifying who He is to us. We worship God in our needs. When we worship the God of our needs we are authorizing Him to be God to us.
This is the truth: We worship the God we need! If we need peace, we worship the Prince of Peace! If we need security we worship the God who never leaves us nor forsakes us! If we need comfort we worship the God of all comfort! If we need finances, we worship the God who has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness (II Pet. 1:3). If we need encouragement and confirmation, then worship the God who always encourages our hearts daily and confirms His will in our life!
Worship acknowledges who God is and when we do, we see Him as He really is; He is our God, source, supply, sustainer, helper, redeemer, savior, and lover of our soul. He cares for us; He loves us. Our faith in who God is to us will soar as we worship the God of our needs. Our needs will be met because we have brought God's grace into our situations and circumstance (Matt. 6:33). How did we do this? We did this because we worshiped Him as the One who meets our every need.
When God taught us that He seeks worshipers in Spirit and in truth, He wasn't seeking this for Himself (4:23). He was seeking worshipers who would find rest and peace by being born again and then living in His grace because of the truth found in Jesus (John 1:16, 17). Amen.
P.S. When we realize the true purpose of worship suddenly it takes on real meaning. It becomes a powerful source of strength and confidence. It becomes very real and practical in our lives. It will motivate us to worship God more!
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